Furnace-charging apparatus.



No. 695,604. a Patented Mar. l8, I902.

B. A. FRANKLIN; FURNACE CHARGING APPARATUS.

(Applicafiion filed July 20, 1901.

2 Shaots-8hoet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 695,604.. Patented Mar. l8, I902.

B. A. FRANKLIN. FURNACE CHARGING APPARATUS.

' A imation ma m 20, 1901.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

' INVENTOR I 4110mm mus PEIERS co. PHOYO-L T U-. wuumomu a c UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

BENJAMIN ALVEY FRANKLIN, orPHiLADELPnIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FURNACE-CHARGING APPARATUS.

SPEClZFlCA'iION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,604, dated March 18, 1902.

Application filed J'uly 20, 1901- Serial No. 69,029. (No model.)

To to whom it may concern:

' FRANKLIN, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding in the city andcounty of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in.

Furnace-Charging Apparatus, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact d'escription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of fur-' nace-chargin g apparatus in which is employed a charging-bar or peel movable into and out of the furnace in such a manner as to introduce a loaded charging-box to the furnace, deposit the contents of said box within the furnace, and then withdraw the empty box.

The primary-object of my invention is'to provide such an apparatus in which the charging-bar or peel and its supporting and operating mechanisms shall be so constructed and organized as to effect the traverse of said peel into and from the furnace at varying horizontal angles to permit the discharge of material into' different parts of the furnace-chamher, as desired.

A further object of my invention is to pro- A vide for the tilting of the peel in a vertical plane to enable the same to raise the charging-box preparatory to carryipg it into the furnace.

A further object ofmy invention is to provide a simple and efficient connection between the ch'arging-box and the peel, whereby the'box when it has been introduced into the furnace-chamber may be automaticallyturned about the peel to dump the contents of the box into said chamber.

With these objects in view my invention consists in novel features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be herein-i after particularly described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is aside elevation, partly in section, of a furnace-charging apparatus embodying my invention Fig. 2 isa horizontal section as on theline 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section, enlarged, as on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a similar section as on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig.

5 is a similarsection as on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail of a portion of one remove the empty boxes. ftrackway and parallel therewith is a trackof the trucks forthe peel-frame, showing .depending rail-engaging rollers on the truck.

Fig. 7 is an end view'of the peel-carriageand adjuncts, showing means for rotating the peel about its axis.

A represents a trackway extending adjacent to and parallel with the front of the furnace A,the usual wheeled truck, constructed and arranged to traverse said trackway and to transport the loaded charging-boxes to the door or doors of thefurn'ace and thereafter to Adjacent to this a wheeled carriage 'D, constructed to sup- The connections between the frame and the report the rearward-end of the frame.

spec'tive carriages are such that when both ward-carriage B the peel-frame will be swung horizontally about its axial support on'the latter carriage in a manner to incline said T frame horizontally in respect to the front of the furnace. I

Provision is had-whereby the rearward end of the peel-frame may be raised or lowered on the carriage D, so as to impart a rising or falling movement to the forward end of said,

frame, as desired. 1

i The forward carriage 13 comprises a suit able body I), provided with appropriate boxes or bearings for axles b, carrying flanged wheels b adapted to run on the'rails-of the trackway B. Upon the carriage-body is supported an electric motor M, the shaft of which is geared with one of the axles through coact- 'ing gear-wheels 6 whereby when the motor is operated'the carriage will beimpelled along the trackway in either direction desired. Upon the body I) is centrally pivoted, by avertical pivot-pin 12 a U shaped frame bi, in and between the vertical members of which is horizontally pivoted, by trunnions b the forward end of the pee1-frame,wherebythe latter has capacity for oscillation in both horizontal and vertical planes. The carriage is preferably provided with suitably-located guiding and steadying rollers 12 that take against the sides of the rails of the trackway B. These rollers are carried by depending arms b on the carriage-body.

The carriage D comprises a body d, also provided with appropriate boxes or bearings for axles d, carrying flanged wheels (1 adapted to the rails of the trackway D. This body also supports an electric motor M, which is operatively geared to one of the axles by the coacting gear-wheels d to edect the propulsion of the carriage along its trackway. On this body is supported'a vertically-adj ustable bed E, upon which is centrally pivoted,by a vertical pivot-pin d a U-shaped frame at, similarly to the corresponding frame, above described, in respect to the carriage B. On the inner sides of the vertical members of this frame (1 are trnnnions d, which register with horizontal slots 0 in the peel-frame, whereby the latter may be raised or lowered correspondingly with the bed E and also be swung horizontally upon its vertical pivots b (1 during the movement of the carriage D upon the traekway.

In the present instance the bed E is supported by four screw-rods e, depending from the respective corners of the bed and being guided in vertical guide-posts on the earriage-body d. On these rods are nuts e,which comprise the hubs of worm-wheels 6 These wheels are supported in horizontal openings in the guide-posts, to the end that when said wheels are properly rotated the screw-rods are raised or lowered, as desired. Ooacting with the worm-wheels are worms c on the respective ends of two parallel shafts e, having their hearings in uprights e on the carriage-body. These shafts are provided with bevel-wheels c, with which coact corresponding wheels e on a transverseshaft a having its hearings in uprights e on the carriagebody. Shaft e is equipped with a bevelwheel 6 with which coacts a pinion e on the shaft of an electric motor M supported on the carriage-body. By this construction it will be seen that when the motor M is operated the worm-shafts 6 will be simultaneously rotated, thereby revolving the wormwheels (2 and effecting thereby the elevation or depression of the'screw-rods e and the bed E, as the direction of motion of the motorshaft may determine. The carriage D is preferably provided with depending guiding and steadying wheels similarly to the carriage B, above described.

The peel-frame O in its preferred construction comprises two parallel channel-beams 0, connected at or near their respective ends and maintained a suitable distance apart by crossbars 0 The forward bar is centrally perforated to afford a bearing (in which antifriction-rollers 0 may be employed) for the corresponding end of the peel or charging bar F, the rearward end of the latter being supported and carried by a wheeled carrier f, mounted between the lateral beams of the frame. This carrier comprises a cylindrical body for the reception of the end of the peel, provided with lateral stud-shafts f, carrying flanged wheels f which register with the channels of the bars, whereby the carrier may be run along said bars, so as to advance or retract the peel. On two of the diametrically opposite stud-shafts are spur-wheels f with which coact pinions f on the shaft of an electric motor M mounted on the body of the carrier,whereby when the motor is operated said carrier, together with the peel, will be impelled along the frame. The forward end of the peel is provided with a pintle f which projects beyond the forward end of the frame G. On this pintle is supported a bracket G, having a raised or eccentric forward portion g, to which are adapted to be secured, by a vertical pin or bolt g,laterally-projectinglugs h on the eharging box II, the latter beingso constructed that when the charging-bar, with the connected loaded box, is movedinto the furnace the box will automatically turn about the axis of the pintle, and thus discharge the contents of the box into the furnace. Means are provided to prevent the premature turning of the box, which means in the present instance comprises a longitudinally-movable latch-rod g contained in a groove f in the under side of the peeland supported on perforated webs f on the latter. The forward end of this rod is normally projected by the action, preferably, of a spring f into a recess or socket g in the under side of the pivotbracket, so as to lock the latter temporarily in place; yet when the latch-rod is disengaged from the bracket against the pressure of the spring the bracket is free to rotate. On the latch-rod is a sliding collar 9 carrying a depending set-screw g, by the manipulation of which the collar and screw may be adjusted lengthwise of the rod and secured in any desired position of adjustment. The head of this screw extends into the horizontal plane of the forward cross-bar c of the peel-frame, to the end that when the peel is advanced sufficiently such head will abut against the opposing cross-bar, and thereby effect the retraction of the latch, and perforce the release of the bracket. The screw is so adjusted lengthwise of the rod as to effect the release of the bracket when the loaded charging-box has been projected into the furnace.

The charging-box I-I comprises an-open rectangular structure, the bottom it of which is arranged midway between the upper and lower edges of its lateral and end walls, so as to lie above the axis of the pintle. The upper compartment is adapted to contain the load. Hence when the loaded box is projected into the furnace and the bracket released, as above stated, the box, being topheavy, so to say, turns by gravity about the axis of the pintle, and thereby discharges the front of the furnace; thatbyoperating the bed E on the carriage D the forward portion of the peel will be tilted on its tru'nnions, so as to set the bracket G in proper position" to be connected with the loaded charging-box;

that by again operating'said bed the forward portion of the peel, with the loaded box; may

be raised into line with the inlet to the fur nace, and that thereupon by operating the motor M the peel-carrier may be moved toward the furnace, so as tocorrespondingly advance the peeland move the loaded box into the furnace. It will also be seen that by moving the carriage D independently'of the forward carriage B when the loaded box has.

been introduced to the furnace the peel will be'swung laterally in a horizontal plane, so

as to move the box to either side of the furnace-chamber preparatory to discharging the contents of the box.

Instead of using the automatic dumping mechanism above describedthe bracket G may be fixedly secured to the end of the peel and means be provided fo'rpartially rotating the latter when the bracket and the connected loaded box have been movedintothe fur Such means, as illustrated in Fig. 7,

nace. may comprise an independent electric motor M mounted on the body of'the peel-carrier and connected by coacting-gears m with the end of the peel, the latter in that case being rotatably instead of rigidly supported in the carrier f.

I claim- 1. In afurnace-charger, the combination of a frame, a charging-bar movable 1ongit udinally thereof, andtwo independent carriagesupon which the respective ends of said frame are pivotally supported, substantially as (lescribed.

2. In a furnace-charger, the combination with two independent carriages, of a frame having at one end a horizontal and a vertical pivotal connection with one of said carriages,"

and having at the other'e'nd a similar connection with the other carriage, anda chargingbar longitudinally movablein said frame, substantially as described.

It will also be seen that by simulta 3. In a furnace-charger, the combinationof a carriage mounted on rails in front of the furnace, a vertically-movable bed on said carriage, means for adjusting said bed, a secon d carriage mounted on railsbetween'the rails first named and the furnace, a frame having pivotal connections with said second carriage and bed, and a charging-bar longitudinally movable in said frame, substantially as described.

4:. In a furnace-charger, the combination of a carriage mounted on rails in front of the furnace, a vertically-movable bed on said car 'riage, means for adjusting said bed, a support having a vertical pivot connection with said bed, a secondcarriage mounted on rails located between the rails first named and the furnace, a support having a vertical pivot connection with saidlatter carriage, a frame having at one end thereof a horizontal sliding pivot connection with the support on' said bed,- and havingat the opposite end a horizontal pivot connection with the support on the second carriage, and a charging-bar longitudidescribed. 5. In a f urn ace-charging apparatus,a frame including channel-bars and a transverse co n nally movable in said frame, substantially as necting-piecetherefor provided withabearing, a longitudinally-movable charging-bar supported in said'bearing,"and a ca'rria'ge adapted'to support the rearward end .of said barand provided with wheels which "are mounted in the'channels of'thechannel -bars, V substantially as described;

6.Iu a furnace-charger, the combination with the'ch'arging-bar, of a bracket pivotally' supportedfon the forward endof said bar and provided withian eccentric portion to support a charging box, substantially as described.

' 7. In" a furnace charger', the combination,

with thecharging bar, of a bracket pivotally suppoited on the'forward e'ndof said b arand provided with aneccentric portion to support a charging-box, and'a'latch device for said bracket, substantially as :described.

- 8. In a furnace-ch'argenthe combination withthe charging-bar, of a bracket pivotally supportedon the forward end of said bar and provided with an eccentricportion'to support a ch arging-b'ox, a latch device for said bracket,

and means'for' automatically operating said deviceto release the bracket, substantially as described, 1

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature'in thepresenceof two sub-'- scribing witnesses.

Witnessesz "ANDREW V. GRoUPE,

JOHN R. NOLAN.

BENJAMIN AL-VEY-FRANKLIN. I 

